Football match in Kingston remembers Dylan Alkins

Tribute to a popular team-mate: The Kingston and Bridgeview teams which met in the memorial match.

Published:19:00Thursday 08 May 2014

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A memorial football match for teenager Dylan Alkins, who was tragically swept out to sea to his death during the storms of six months ago, took place on Sunday May 4.

It was played in glorious spring sunshine at St Pancras Green in Kingston.

Dylan used to be a key player for Kingston Village FC, and his under-14 team-mates were keen to play the match in his memory.

As he used to be a Southover Primary School and later Priory School, Lewes, pupil, he was well known and liked by boys from both Kingston Village FC and Bridgeview FC, so it was appropriate that the match should be between these two sides.

Before the match began a flowering cherry tree was planted next to the pavilion, and moving speeches were made by Doug Taylor, Ivan Griffiths and the latter’s son Hector Griffiths, who is captain of the Kingston under-14s.

Dylan’s father, uncle and grandmother were present, and were highly appreciative of all that had been done by the club to celebrate his life. After the speeches everyone had the opportunity to sprinkle some soil around the tree.

It was a poignant afternoon, but after a minute’s silence before kick-off the match was played with great spirit by the boys. The home team emerged the winners by a 2-0 scoreline.

Jo Older had made cakes and served up drinks with other helpers, and more than £100 was raised at the event. This will be donated to the Newhaven Lifeboat, at Dylan’s dad’s request, as they had risked life and limb searching for the missing 14-year-old on that fateful day in October.

It was a sad but memorable occasion, and one which will never be forgotten by those that were present.

Elsewhere, the hugely popular seven-a-side Lewes inter-Bonfire Societies Tournament takes place at The Dripping Pan on Sunday, May 11.

All seven Lewes societies, Waterloo, South Street, Southover, Cliffe, Commercial Square, Nevill Juvenile and Borough, will be taking part and joined by Newick. Gates open at 10am for an 11am kick-off. The final is scheduled for 5pm and admission is free.

During the tournament Lewes Ladies FC will be staging a special collection for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, inspired by 12-year-old mascot and fan Emma Roberts, who suffers from the condition.